Tobacco shop turns heads in Haverford

By LOIS PUGLIONESI

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

HAVERFORD -- Bill Corcoran of Havertown told commissioners Monday he has a big problem with Greyboy's, a new business at 2411 Darby Road.

Identified on its website as a premier tobacco shop offering "a wide selection of tobacco accessories for the smoking enthusiast," Greyboy's, formerly located in Clifton Heights, opened for business in Havertown last week in place of the now- defunct Logic skateboard shop.

Describing himself as a longtime youth coach and father of three young children, Corcoran maintained that despite pretty clothes showcased in the window, Greyboy's is "a head shop" that's going to "cause problems and bring in a bad element."

Corcoran said his wife recently visited the store, which is divided into two sections. While the front room features attractive apparel, artwork, candles, incense and gift items, "they're selling bongs in the back," Corcoran said, referring to items many associate with ingesting marijuana.

The merchandise is sold in the store's rear section, which is segregated by a wall and curtained threshold.

"You can't say they're for tobacco, because no one smokes tobacco out of vaporizers or bubblers," Corcoran said. "When you see a store with a skull and top hat smoking a joint, it's usually not a good sign."

Corcoran said Greyboy's seems to have "snuck in overnight ... when everyone is away," and that he has concerns for his daughter walking past on her way to Haverford Middle School in the fall. He noted the proximity to Haverford High School, St. Denis and Hoopty's, a pizza place two doors down where "kids are hanging out."

"It may be legal, but it's not right," Corcoran said. "It's not what Haverford Township is about, at all."

Corcoran urged officials to use every legal means they could.

Commissioners President Bill Wechsler told Corcoran he and others have similar concerns.

Wechsler said the township is aware of the issue and staff, police and codes enforcement is being vigilant.

"A place of business has joined the township and is under close scrutiny by many people," Wechsler said. "It's being watched very, very closely."

If the board approves a police K-9, also discussed at the meeting, "we can walk it down that block a lot," Wechsler said.

"(Although Greyboy's is) the type of business we don't usually associate with Haverford, everyone has the right to rent property and open a business ... We have to respect the right ... and can't regulate what type of business is there," Wechsler said. "If we see anything out of the ordinary, we'll take action."

Police Chief Carmen Pettine later declined comment.

During an interview at Greyboy's on Tuesday, proprietor Marc Singer disagreed with Corcoran's perception that smoking apparatus available in his store isn't used for tobacco.

Objecting to terms like "bong," Singer maintained that the water pipes and hookahs he carries are for tobacco use.

Originally from India, these items are becoming increasingly popular in the U.S., he noted. Greyboy's carries three varieties of flavored hookah tobacco, including the molasses-based product called shisha, as well as traditional pipe tobacco, cigarette tubes, smokeless cigarettes, pipe cases and other accessories.

Additionally, a sign states that patrons must be 18 or older, with proper ID, to enter the store's rear section.

Pennsylvania law prohibits sale or provision of tobacco products to minors and restricts their display. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, hookah smoking is not a safe alternative to smoking cigarettes.

In addition to featuring art by local artists, Singer said he plans to offer jewelry and stained-glass workshops, acoustic music and possibly skateboards.

"We want to be perceived as a local art resource," Singer said.

Matt Piotrowski, manager at Hoopty's, said he understands concerns regarding nearby schools and the possibility of bringing in "a bad element."

However, similar things could be said about Havertown's multiple bars and drunken driving issues, he noted.

Piotrowski further argued that if someone buys a baseball bat at a sporting goods store and uses it to harm someone, it shouldn't be blamed on the seller.

"It's the same idea here. The pipes are for tobacco use. If a kid smokes dope out of it, it shouldn't come back to them. I don't have a problem with it," Piotrowski said.